Idea & Reality

Some good advice from St Mark the Ascetic:

151. To recall past sins in detail inflicts injury on the man who hopes in God. For when such recollection brings remorse it deprives him of hope; but if he pictures the sins to himself without remorse, they pollute him again with the old defilement.

153. If you wish to make a blameless confession to God do not go over your failings in detail, but firmly resist their renewed attacks.

From “On Those who Think They Are Made Righteous by Works: Two Hundred Twenty Six Texts.”